Training a Kitten
Getting a new kitten is quite exciting. But once you bring that kitty home, you quickly realize that your kitten definitely need some training.
Without some basic rules and boundaries, that cute kitty can turn into a menace really fast.
Don’t worry though, with a little patience and the right techniques, you can absolutely train your kitten to be a well-behaved member of the family.
Start Training your Kitten Right Away
The earlier you start training your kitten, the better.
Kittens have a relatively short window when they are most open to learning.
From 8 weeks to 5 months old is the prime time to get them used to your rules and routines.
After that critical period, bad behaviors can become deeply ingrained habits that are much harder to break.
So don’t wait. As soon as you bring that tiny fur nugget home, start implementing your training program.
The sooner they learn, the sooner you’ll have a perfectly polite pet.
Keep It Positive
When it comes to training kittens, positive reinforcement is key.
That means rewarding them with treats, playtime, and praise when they do something good.
Never punish or yell at your kitten when they mess up.
That will just make them afraid and less likely to listen.
For example, if your kitten uses the litter box successfully, immediately give them a treat and say “good kitty!” in an excited, happy voice.
If they scratch the couch, make a loud noise to interrupt them, then redirect them to a scratching post with more treats and praise when they use it.
The positive association will encourage the good behavior while the unpleasant interruption deters the bad.
Be Patient and Consistent
Kittens have a very short attention span, so training requires repeating the same lessons over and over.
Don’t get frustrated if your kitten isn’t getting it right away.
As long as you are consistent and keep making those positive associations, the lessons will eventually sink in.
It’s also important that the entire household uses the same training techniques.
If one person is rewarding a behavior while someone else is punishing it, the poor kitten will just get confused.
Make sure everyone is on the same page so your messaging is crystal clear.
Start With The Basics
There are a few foundational behaviors that every kitten should learn right off the bat.
Once you’ve got these down, you can move on to more advanced training.
1. Litter Box
Of course, the first order of business is litter box training.
Never punish accidents, as that will only make them afraid to go in front of you.
Instead, frequently place them in the litter box so they associate it with the act of going to the bathroom.
Reward each success with a treat.
2. Scratching Post
Cats need to scratch, so you’ll want to provide plenty of acceptable scratching posts around the house from day one.
When you see them scratching the post, give a treat.
If they scratch the furniture, make a loud noise to interrupt, then bring them to the post and treat when they use it.
3. Basic Commands
Start working on simple verbal commands like “come,” “no,” and “settle.”
Use a reward marker like a clicker or phrase like “good kitty!” to mark the desired behavior.
Immediately give a treat after marking so they associate the word with the reward. Be patient and consistent.
4. No Biting or Scratching
It’s important to discourage biting and scratching of human skin early on.
When your kitten does those things, say “no” firmly, then redirect them to a toy.
When they latch onto the toy instead, reward with a treat.
This will help curb those instincts at an early age.
Stay Through The Training
Stick with it and your training will pay off big time.
A kitten with good habits and manners will grow into a polite, charming cat that’s an absolute delight to live with.
All that time spent teaching them as a baby results in many happy years with your perfect feline friend.
Sure, training a kitten can feel like a full-time job at first.
There will be accidents, scratched up furniture, and total chaos as you work through all the lessons.
It requires an enormous amount of energy, dedication, and treat bargaining.
But those brief kitten months establishing boundaries are a tiny blip compared to the decade or more you’ll enjoy with your well-adjusted adult cat.
As long as you’re consistent and keep making those positive associations, your kitten will be schooled in no time.
So stick with it, stay strong, and don’t lose heart.
A few months of kitten training sets you up for many years of pure good behaviour.
That long training will be so worth all the effort.
